On November 7, 2023 Biodesix, Inc. (Nasdaq: BDSX), a leading diagnostic solutions company with a focus in lung disease, reported its financial and operating results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2023 and provided a corporate update (Press release, Biodesix, NOV 7, 2023, View Source [SID1234637122]).

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"I am pleased to announce yet another impressive quarter of growth at Biodesix," said Scott Hutton, President and Chief Executive Officer. "The team delivered over 10,400 Lung Diagnostics tests, growing 60% over the 6,500 tests delivered in the third quarter of 2022, the fifth straight quarter of at least 60% year-over-year growth, and 6% improvement over second quarter 2023. Our Biopharma Services business also had a strong quarter, growing 79% year-over-year and 181% over the second quarter. I am thrilled with Biodesix’s ability to consistently grow the business while maintaining a strong cost disciplined approach. Starting this quarter, we are now providing Adjusted EBITDA to provide additional insight into our progress toward profitability. Our third quarter Adjusted EBITDA was ($5.4) million, a 40% improvement over both the third quarter of 2022 and the second quarter of 2023. In the fourth quarter we are continuing to improve our balance sheet with the final closing of our private placement announced in August and plan to draw down an additional $10 million from the second tranche of our term loan with Perceptive Advisors. I am exceptionally pleased with our progress as we continue to increase test volumes, drive revenue growth, advance operational effectiveness, and improve Adjusted EBITDA as we strive to impact more patients with lung disease than ever before."

Third Quarter 2023 Financial Results

For the three-month period ended September 30, 2023, as compared to the same period of 2022 (where applicable):

Total revenue of $13.5 million, an increase of 21%, including COVID testing revenue in third quarter 2022, driven primarily by strong year-over-year growth in lung diagnostics, and a 37% year-over-year increase excluding COVID testing revenues from the prior year comparison;
Lung diagnostic revenue of $12.3 million reflected a year-over-year increase of 34% driven primarily by the continued adoption of Nodify Lung nodule risk assessment tests, and approximately 60% when excluding one-time cash revenue from tests performed in prior periods primarily from Medicare coverage of the Nodify CDT test;
Biopharma Services and other revenue of $1.2 million increased 79% year-over-year, a result of both delivering against our increasing book of business and new agreements;
COVID-19 testing revenue decreased by 100% year-over-year, as the Company no longer provides COVID-19 diagnostic testing services;
Third quarter 2023 gross profit of $10.3 million, or 76% gross margin compared to 67% gross margin in the comparable prior year period, primarily driven by growth in Lung Diagnostic Testing and optimization of testing workflows that resulted in improvements in costs per test, the ongoing recovery of our Biopharma Services business, and the commercial discontinuation of our lower-margin COVID-19 diagnostic testing;
Operating expenses (excluding direct costs and expenses) of $17.4 million, a decrease of approximately $0.7 million, or 4% as compared to the third quarter 2022 (includes non-cash stock compensation expense of $1.0 million as compared to $1.2 million). This decrease is primarily attributable to a decrease in research and development costs, partially offset by increased sales and marketing costs to support lung diagnostic sales growth to enhance product awareness and drive adoption;
Net loss of $10.9 million, a decrease of approximately $2.8 million, or 20%;
Adjusted EBITDA was a loss of $5.4 million, an improvement of $3.6 million, or 40%;
Cash and cash equivalents of $19.8 million as of September 30, 2023, an increase of $2.4 million from June 30, 2023;
The Company plans to draw down an additional $10 million from the second tranche of its $50 million term loan facility with Perceptive Advisors in the fourth quarter of 2023, subject to the terms and conditions of such facility;
Cash balance includes $15.3 million of the $27.5 million private placement announced in August. The remaining $12.2 million will be received in the fourth quarter of 2023.
2023 Financial Outlook

Third quarter revenues were impacted by a change in the timing and assumptions regarding the anticipated collection of revenue from a backlog of previously unrecognized Medicare Advantage claims. Based on these new assumptions, the Company is adjusting its 2023 financial outlook to remove the backlog and is not making any change to core business expectations. The Company expects to generate $50 to $52 million in total revenue in 2023.

Conference call and webcast information

Listeners can register for the webcast via this link. Analysts wishing to participate in the question-and-answer session should use this link. A replay of the webcast will be available via the Company’s investor website approximately two hours after the call’s conclusion. Those who plan on participating are advised to join 15 minutes prior to the start time.

For a full list of Biodesix’s press releases and webinars, please visit biodesix.com.